Chapter Text
The sunrise was beautiful this morning; the air was crisp and clean and fresh. Ukobi sat on the top of the wall of the Akkala Lomei Labyrinth, looking out on Hyrule waking up to start a new day. Hyrule castle's silhouette shone against an orange and yellow sky. He could make out a speck that was Vah Medoh. He imagined Revali in his flight range, practicing even though it was before most people were awake. Revali flew with such grace. He was as light as a cloud, as quick as a fox. His feathers were a silvery blue and shone. He was like a dancer, his scarf flowing around him and his aim sure and graceful. After watching him for the first time in his flight range Ukobi couldn't find the words to describe the magic he felt in the air around him. Seeing him in the flight range was different than seeing him in the open. He was more comfortable here. He knew every ridge in the stone here. It was his happy place.
"SO what did you think? Am I deserving of the title of the princess's special knight? Ah, I know she's going to pick Link. He is a simple sword fighter, he doen't deserve it. I do. But you saw me. You know I do." Revali had said. Ukobi stared, his mouth open.
"What? Can't take a little self pride? Believe me, I know. People are usually put off by me, anyway. I drive everyone away. Except for this annoying Rito woman, Darla. People think she's got a thing for me. I disagree, I KNOW she likes me. But she isn't my type. Too-I don't know..."
"It's not that. I - you were amazing." Ukobi stuttered. Revali was surprised at the compliment, as he didn't get too many of them.
"Yes, well. I train hard. Every day." He pulled the string of his bow so it made a twang! sound and flew up into the air. Revali was fed by people's doubts. And now this amazing fighter, this strong, sacred warrior, believed in him and it felt so strange. An unfamiliar grasp on his heart.
"Ukobi! Get down from there! Come down now!" A stern female voice called him back from to the present. He swung his legs over the wall and, pressing his body into every groove, slid down.
"Impressive." Zelda rolled her eyes. "While you were being reckless up there, we were planning a mission. I hate to say this, but you and Revali are going on a mission together. Meet me at Rito Village by noon." Ukobi reached towards Zelda's white stallion and petted its muzzle. It slowly pushed its ears back and lifted it's front hoof slightly.
"It doesn't like me, just like it's owner." Ukobi muttered.
"You boys are insufferable fools. I should just assign Mipha and Urbosa tasks and leave you boys to fend for yourselves! Yah!" She glared at him one last time before galloping away.
"She needs to get off my ass. Seriously. It's making me think I signed up for the wrong job."
The Sheikah Warrior garb was not supposed to be off while in public, unless traveling to harsh regions. Hebra was one of the harshest regions out there, with extreme, unforgiving cold. Only the Snowquill Set could insulate a Sheikah's bones enough. Ukobi now wore a headpiece with a feathered hair clip and a top that was thick and cozy. Instead of the matching trousers, he had a pair of snow boots, which he had bought off a merchant on the road. They made it possible to stand on top of the snow rather than get stuck in its powdery white trap.
Ukobi tred carefully, taking care with every step. Suddenly, an Ice Lizalfos burst from a snowbank. It hissed wildly, showing its yellow fangs and slimey tongue. Ukobi calmly reached to his back and pulled out his iron piercer. His weapon would be a two-handed weapon, but he had learned to master it with only one hand. The grip took days to make, as it was crafted to match every possible grip he could use. The blade gleamed even in the darkness. Crafted with silent princess flowers and swift violets the made moved quickly through the air and one could wield it without making a sound. Ukobi calmly spun around and took care of the lizalfos in one swipe. He cut off the tail and claws and tucked them away in his pouch. They were good for elixirs, especially to withstand the cold.
He could see the top of Rito Village now, the cut out in the stone that looked like a heart. He remembered once when he and Revali had their first mission together. It was the night before, and instead of preparing like the princess had commanded, they were together at the very top of the village. They were laughing, showing off battle tricks. Revali flew into the air and did five loops, one right after the other.
"Impressive, right?" Revali said as he landed.
"It was pretty-" Ukobi started.
"Thank you, thank you. I am the master of the skies, you know." Revali laughed proudly.
"You are an asshole. A very 'modest' asshole." Ukobi grabbed Revali's chest plate and pulled him out of the air. He curled his arm around Revali's neck and rubbed his fist in his fluffy top feathers. Revali laughed and wrapped his legs around Ukobi's neck and pulled him down. They laid on their backs and looked at the stars.
"Kobi?"
"Yeah?"
"Are girls swarming around you? You know, hoping to marry you someday."
"I guess. But I don't know, I've never wanted any of them. It's like-"
"It isn't who you are." Revali smiled at Ukobi.
"Yeah. Like I'm meant for something else." Ukobi shook his head. "Maybe it's dumb." Revali sat up.
"Well, we shouldn't busy ourselves with love right now anyway. We have so many missions to complete, because we are the best warriors in Hyrule. Now, let's get ready. We have to leave soon." Ukobi climbed onto Revali's back and they flew down to Revali's hut. They climbed into hammocks and stayed up all night talking, trying their best to not wake the other villagers.
He approached Rito Stable, his feet sore from walking for so long in the snow.
"Curry? My special recipe!" An old man sitting by the fire smiled kindly. "I got some goron spice recently and now I can make tons of delicious spicy dishes. Spice is the one thing that keeps me going." This guy is crazy. Ukobi stared for a little while before shaking his head and responding.
"Thanks. But I'm okay. Ha - have a nice day." Ukobi nodded at the stable manager and the guard on the bridge and jogged through the Floating Islands of Rito Village. He squinted at the sun and could make out the shapes of Zelda and Revali on the landing with the Rito crest. Revali, as always, was standing with pride. He was getting impatient with every moment, his talons drumming on the wood. He pulled out his bow and quickly shot an arrow through the hole in the stone heart. Zelda looked at him, eyes narrowed and hands on her hips. Ukobi knew she was waiting for him also, and he started to run faster. He dashed past the goddess statue and up the stairs. He passed the clothing and general stores. Finally he reached the landing.
"You are late." Zelda said shortly.
"I got caught up-"
"Staring at Revali? What is it with you and him? He isn't that great. You are feeding into his arrogance."
"Were you really staring at me? I know, I'm mesmerizing. I'm the mast-"
"WE KNOW," Zelda shouted. The villagers walking by stopped and stared, beaks open and eyes widened.
"Sorry. Now, for your mission. There are two gold maned lynels east of Rito Stable. The people that rely on the stable for shelter and food are living in fear. Kill them and bring back their hooves and other parts to sell. What are you still doing here? I said, go!" Ukobi climbed onto Revali's back and they took off.
Revali liked to fly high. Very high. As a Rito he wasn't very affected by the cold, and he could go wherever he desired. But Ukobi, despite wearing the Rito clothing, shivered relentlessly. They rushed past clouds wailing in the cold, their tears freezing. As they got closer to the field where the lynels were, the snow turned into big chunks that fell like tiny bullets.
"This storm is too harsh. I have to go lower." Revali yelled.
"We can't! We can't risk early detection, and a lynel's hearing is too good and their senses too strong. We have to attack from above." Ukobi glared at the back or Revali's head.
"We can take on the lynels but I am sick of this storm. I can't focus! We are going down." Revali instantly dropped down. Ukobi guessed Revali was used to it but his stomach dropped to his thighs.
"JESUS REVALI. WATCH IT!" Ukobi's hair rushed back and untied itself from his perfect bun. He squeezed his eyes shut and grimaced as they plunged towards the ground. They landed suprisingly quietly, with just a small patter of Revali's talons on the grassy earth. Revali glanced at his passanger and sighed.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. But don't ever do that to me again." Ukobi climbed down and stood beside his fellow champion.
"Your hair- it's...different." Ukobi's hair reached his shoulders and made him look like a god, a drop from the heavens. Revali was shocked. Ukobi was...he was so...he was like finally replacing the string on your bow. The potential was there the whole time but suddenly it was right in front of him. Ukobi was tall, strong, and had flowing hair that reminded Revali of freshly fallen snow balancing on top of the targets in his flight range. Revali looked down at his partner's callused palms and fingers: they made him look like a tired traveler. His locks blew into his face and Ukobi imediately brushed them away, tucking them behind his ear. Revali focused on the lynels again, but neither of them thought about battle plans. Ukobi looked at the beasts pacing in a perfect rhythm, making sure every spot enemies could come from was covered. Not the sky, though. A good attack would come from the sky. Ukobi sighed quietly at the lost opportunity.
It was so rare to see two lynels together as they were a species that lived to kill. But these two were different. They worked together to guard the perimiter, to keep each other safe. They walked as if in a dance, stepping gracefully over every stone and slightest divet in the grass. Their eyes met at the same point every rotation, and though their faces were permanently stuck in a confused, angry grimace, he thought he saw something change on them, as slight as an eyelash moving out of place. A cliché of an unlikely pair.
CHAPTER 4
An intimidating shadow fell over Ukobi, sending chills throughout his body. The lynel growled and squinted its menacing red eyes. In the air, Revali was holding very still, aiming without making a sound. The lynel reached back and pulled out it's savage sword and shield, made with chains and hard steel. It reared and pulled back to take a swing, an angry bloodthirsty creature made for killing.
The sky was silent as Revali aimed carefully, with the percision of a master archer. He focused right between the silvery horns, and imagined his arrow flying through the gold mane and piercing the striped skin. He stretched the bow string a little farther and released. His arrow flew to the right a little, which Revali had, of course, expected and planned for, so as it flew closer to the ground it turned slightly and it was dead on.
The creature howled in pain, and the cry was loud enough for the other lynel, the one Revali had lured away with a bit of prime meat, to hear. It galloped back to aid its companion, kicking up dirt and stones along the way.
"Ukobi, the other one is coming! Straight ahead!" Revali shouted. Their one advantage was sacrificed as the lynels looked to the sky and put the pieces together. They realized they were tricked and snarled in fury.
"Revali I am going to need a little help here! I'm accustomed to using a short sword, but that sort of weapon is too dangerous to use against the lynels." Revali swooped down and landed behind Ukobi.
"Don't you have some special power? Why dont you use that and get us out of this mess. You think you're a good fighter with special skills? Prove it."
"I don't like using my power. It makes me feel too powerful." Ukobi sighed. The pair was dodging the lynel sword but just barely, and Revali's constant arrows weren't working against their brute strength.
"We don't have time to talk about what you like and dislike, okay? We are going to be killed by these lynels unless you do something. I'll die eventually but it's not going to be in this disgusting grassy nothingness, and it is certainly not going to be before we get official rolls in Zelda's army. I am going to die like a hero! So it's your move, big guy. I suggest you take it!" Revali nodded confidently and took off again. Ukobi looked down at his shaking hands. They would have to do.
Ukobi moved his arms in a circle around him. As he brought them back to his chest he pressed his palms together, his right fingers pulling magic from the ground and his left ones from the sky. A purple glow consumed him and his eyes turned completely silver. He brought his hands and traced the triforce in the air. He reached out to the goddess that was all around him and absorbed the power she gifted to him. The shape's sides connected wings appeared, followed by talons and the outline of a bird body. Ukobi screamed as he thrust his hands forward and the shape lit on fire. It shot through the air and consumed the lynels. Illusionary roots grew from the ground and wrapped around the gruesome beasts, and they too caught on purpley fire. They wriggled and tried to slither out of the death trap until they stopped moving all together.
Ukobi's eyes turned back to normal and the glow vanished as quickly as it appeared. A dust cloud formed as Revali landed on the earth again.
"What - what was that? Magic like I've never seen." He gaped.
"I have the power to absorb spirit orbs and use them to create whatever I want. My mother died when I was young because she was hit with a star fragment. Normally people could hold star fragments and use them but this one was different. It impacted her so quickly filled her with magical power. But she was just a regular Sheikah and couldn't hold all that power in her. It slowly, but not painfully, killed her. I was born that day, and I carried some of the star's power. I was training when I first learned of the power. I got so angry and exhausted that I was frozen in time. I just suddenly glowed with power, like I did just now, and I was filled with this new life and happiness. The Elder Sheikah helped to forge my connection with the spirit orbs. I don't always want it. That's why I don't use it. So much power....I don't want it to get in the way of me being a respectable human being."
"Well I know something about being a kind person with a lot of power." Revali remarked.
"Couldn't you, just once, stop being so arrogant. You aren't the best, okay!" Ukobi curled his hands into fists. His hair blew in his face, making his face look shadowed and angry.
"I'm sorry that I wasn't impressed by your little sentiment. But your sob story is honestly so boring and I don't know if this was clear but I don't like hearing about people getting special things. And you - you got everything! Magic and a part of the sacred warrior clan and a front chair in Zelda's army, you have everything that could make me a legend. Everything!" Revali spread his wings and darted into the air.
"You can't run away from your problems forever!" Ukobi snarled. "You can't run away from me..."
Ukobi had to walk the whole way back himself, the blisters on his feet screaming in pain with every step. When he reached the Rito stable it was night, and people were sleeping wherever they could find room. Beedle, the annoying merchant that traveled from stable to stable, was still set up beside the stable's entrance.
"Bugs?" He smiled cheerfully. "Fresh caught! You look like you could use some hasty elixir, am I right! You can make that with my special selection."
"Um, no. It's late. You should probably just go away."
"Wha-"
"To bed! I mean go to bed!" Ukobi grinned unconvincingly and quickly ran away.
Rito village was quiet, and the soft whistling sound of birds breathing through closed beaks echoed all around him. The wind blew through the stone heart and rustled the needles on the pine trees. It was a nice contrast to the pain he felt on the inside. The hope of working with Revali kept him happy, and now Revali would probably never want to work with him again. What had he done? He shouldn't have said those things. He shouldn't be so attached to someone that he had to be professional with. What if he had caused Hyrule's demise because of his stupid little remarks about Revali? What if Revali hated him now?
Revali...
Hyrule's Demise...
He hates me...
Revali....
Hyrule...
Hate...
Revali...
"STOP IT!" He yelled.
"Hush! We are trying to sleep." Someone whispered angrily from a hut nearby.
"Get out of my head..." he said weakly, "get out." He slid down the stone and pulled his arms around his legs. He kept whispering to himself, "get out" but it was barely audible. Ukobi stirred awake as soon as the sun came over the line of trees. His hair was knotted and tangled and tear streams stained his face. His eyes were bloodshot and he felt gross, like sadness was clogging his pores and staining his clothes. He ran his fingers through his hair, working out the clumps until it was a little smoother. He reached down to his belt and grabbed the chopsticks he had managed to grab before they blew away. He wound his hair around one of them and secured it with the other. He stood slowly, his muscles cramped and tingling from sitting for so long on the hard ...wood and rigged rock. He knew of a small lake at the base of the village, one not tainted by salmon like the others. He headed there now, trying to avoid the creak of the old wood boards. Most Rito were still asleep, though he did pass an all-black one with long feathers on his head, muttering something about materials for crafting. Strapped to his back was a great eagle bow, just like Revali's, and a kite shield with the rito crest painted on. Ukobi realized he was the town craftsman, and he recognized his face from the celebration Rito village had when Revali became champion. The craftsman made rito spears for the champions, and a kite shield to go with it for Urbosa. That had been a night of such happiness. Ukobi longed to feel that same joy now, in the same, rushing way.
Fresh spring water from the Hebra or Tabantha was almost frozen, but it did the trick to shock the anger and sadness out of Ukobi's veins. He ripped a piece of cloth off his coat that had been torn on a pine branch and used it to rub the dirt and sweat and stains off his face. His sheikah tattoo was already running, and he took that off as well. His teacher could paint on a new one when he was finally able to leave Rito Village. He pulled up his mask and folded the edge over to secure it.
"Hello, Sir Ukobi. Are you doing well?" A guard was making his way to the end of the bridge.
"Swimming in a pool of depression and anger, thanks."
"What?"
"I'm great, thanks. Great."
"Good! Have a great day! And thank you for saving our village from the gold lynels! We were worried for our safety!" The guard was overly happy, and it somehow brought Ukobi's mood down even farther. He stared at the guard until he grew confused and quickly left to go to his post.
Ukobi grunted and pulled out his blade, which was looking dull and wasn't filled with its usual shine.
"Time for a tune-up, I guess." Ukobi pressed his hands together and took a deep breath. His hands started glowing like they did when he fought the lynels. He carefully slid his hand up the blade and pressed his finger when he found a good spot. His finger bled but his blood shone purple instead of dark red. He turned his finger so the blood would fall on the blade. As soon as the drop hit the surface the iron piercer lit up. A wave of purple flowed up and down the weapon and finished at the tip where the magic burst into little bits of reflective material and faded into the breeze.
"I've never seen anything like your magic." Ukobi's ears turned red and his grip on the handle tightened when he heard a proper female voice behind him.
"Zelda. I didn't expect you to be here. Sorry, I didn't mean for you to see that."
"No, no! I liked it. I never knew what your magic looked like, or how it worked. Why aren't you using that more often?" Zelda asked with genuine curiosity.
"Yes, well. You've seen it now. There’s no need to use it often"
"Hmm…” a quizzical look fell over her face, “anyway, do you happen to know where Revali is? I can't find him. You were the last person who saw him."
"Have you checked his flight range? He loves it there, I’m starting to think it is the only place he is happy. He also seems to think that it's very secret and is a good place to go when he wants to be alone. That little ass thinks he is the best." Ukobi grumbled.
"Is something going on between you two? You seem a little off."
"Yes. I'm perfect. Go find him, and when you do tell him that he can't keep running away from his problems."
"I do not take orders from you. I won't be going to get him, you will. And you can tell him that yourself." Zelda turned around abruptly, her long blond hair slicing through the air.. Her books clicked as she walked away, like the sound of a bowstring after an arrow flies.